- Nathanael Holzapfel, convicted of fraud and sexual battery, faced the parole board Tuesday.
- Victims describe him as manipulative, lacking remorse, and a "master manipulator."
- Holzapfel claims remorse, blames stress, and promises restitution upon release.
SALT LAKE CITY — Nathanael "Nate" Reid Holzapfel says he's never intended to hurt anybody.
"I don't think I've ever woken up and said, 'I'm going to cause some trouble today,'" he told the Utah Board of Pardons and Parole on Tuesday.
But after listening to Holzapfel talk to the board — effortlessly answering questions with lengthy replies using words not typically heard during parole hearings at the Utah State Prison — some of Holzapfel's victims said it immediately brought back feelings of how they were swindled.
"It's hypnotic how he can speak, and he knows exactly what to say," one woman told the board.
Holzapfel, 46, of Orem, pleaded guilty on June 21, 2023, to three counts of communications fraud, a second-degree felony, and three counts of sexual battery, a class A misdemeanor, in a plea deal that took into account eight different criminal cases. In exchange, 17 other criminal charges against him were dismissed.
But just two months later, 4th District Judge Thomas Low unexpectedly rejected a plea deal in which Holzapfel would have avoided serving prison time and instead sentenced him to a term of one to 15 years in prison for the communications fraud, and three one-year terms for the sexual battery convictions. The sentences were ordered to run concurrent.
The judge told Holzapfel at the time that if he maintains good behavior while in prison, he would potentially be out in less than two years and could then work on paying back about $300,000 to his victims.
On Tuesday, Holzapfel went before the parole board for the first time.
Prosecutors say Holzapfel would target women on dating apps and, after investigating their financial situations, hone in on women who were "vulnerable," such as those who recently lost a loved one and were left with insurance money. He then defrauded them.
A couple of times during Tuesday's hearing, he told the board that while he doesn't agree with all the facts in his case, "I honor people's experiences and validate their feelings and take full responsibility."
When asked how he went from being a person without a criminal history to committing multiple crimes, Holzapfel often spoke in the second person and touched on everything from "COVID" to "mid-life crisis" to "stress and misery around the world."
"I've made a lot of mistakes," he said. "I'm sure I've hurt a lot of people."
Holzapfel said learning about "impact vs. intention" during his counseling sessions while incarcerated was a crucial moment for him. He also says the slower paced life of being in prison has given him time to reflect on his actions. Holzapfel said he now realizes that he's gone through most of his life without empathy, which he says he can no longer do.
But his victims believe he is just using more "confusing, manipulative sweet talk" to influence the board. Four of the eight women addressed the parole board on Tuesday.
"He doesn't have empathy. I know this truth. He will offend again. This isn't about a single moment of bad judgment; this is a person who preys on people … without any remorse," one woman told the board.
The woman says the thought of Holzapfel being released has given her renewed anxiety attacks to the point she has considered moving to a different country.
"What this predator did to me was way more than inappropriate touching," she said. "I want to be clear and loud. … I did not meet him on a dating site. I did not pursue him, and I did not give him my personal information," she said, adding that Holzapfel sought her out, researched her and stalked her.
"I was his favorite kind of prey," she said.
Courtney Morton, another victim who was at Holzpfel's sentencing, also attended Tuesday's parole hearing.
"As I listen … it is plain to see that he still cannot take responsibility for what he did to us," Morton said. "This isn't about hurt feelings … and he still cannot admit that."
She also questioned Holzapfel's apparent "sudden" change from having a clean criminal history to committing several crimes.
"The truth is, it's not all of a sudden. This is the first time he's got caught," Morton said. "This man preys upon society's most vulnerable."
"You did more than hurt my feelings; you destroyed my life. You absolutely destroyed my life," another woman said during Tuesday's hearing. "He was a married man, and he was preying on me."
She called Holzapfel a "master manipulator" who "talks in circles" until the listener is lost.
"I have nothing. I have lost everything," she said.
When asked to respond, Holzapfel again said he disagreed with all the facts in the case but recognized his role in what happened.
"I feel horrible for wrecking these people's lives," he said. "I don't want to hurt anybody ever again; it's not worth it."
Holzapfel also told the board that it's "not my fault I'm good with words" and that he wasn't going to stop doing that. He said being in prison for two years was "horrible," and he promised to pay people back when he is released, "but I got to get out to do that."
Prior to his arrest and conviction, Holzapfel gained notoriety on the TV show "Shark Tank" by pitching his belt company Mission Belt. He is no longer associated with the company.
The full five-member board will now vote whether to grant parole or set a date for another hearing.
